Disposable Tortilla-Flat Bread Type Product Warmer

ABSTRACT

A device intended for one-time use (‘disposable”) for microwave heating bread products such as “pitas”, “tortillas” or other bread type products. However, the device can be embodied in a re-usable version and the concept disclosed is not limited in scope to a one-time use version. Tortillas and bread products are commonly heated separately to avoid a “rubbery” texture that results from heating in a microwave oven. Additionally, they are commonly heated separately to optimize “even” heating throughout the tortilla, pita or flat bread product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING

None

DESCRIPTION

In its most basic description, the concept disclosed here comprises adevice intended for one-time use (‘disposable”) for microwave heatingbread products such as “pitas”, “tortillas” or other bread typeproducts. However, the device can be embodied in a re-usable version andthe concept disclosed is not limited in scope to a one-time use version.Tortillas and bread products are commonly heated separately to avoid a“rubbery” texture that results from heating in a microwave oven.Additionally, they are commonly heated separately to optimize “even”heating throughout the tortilla, pita or flat bread product.

The present invention operates as a conduit of even heat distributionemanating from a microwave source for food products. Additionally, itcan operate as a protective device to prevent the food product frombecoming moist from condensation and operates to maintain the integrityof the original heating texture of the food product (i.e. “crispy”).

In sum, this device incorporates a unique “disposable,” low-cost andefficient method providing the sought after type of heating performanceonly currently found in products that are meant to be re-used and thusare larger, require cleaning and storage and cost more to manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED HERE

The original version of the “classic” tortilla warmer is a plasticdevice that houses the tortillas much the same as “tupper ware”, butspecifically is designed to contain and maintain the heat of the warmedtortillas. Another version of the “classic’ version of the tortillawarmer is the cloth or fabric pouch (some are insulated) that allows aperson seeking to warm tortillas to insert them into the pouch andeither microwave them or insert them after they were warmed by someother method. This latter version is gaining popularity due to itseasier storing and ability to heat the tortillas with a microwave oven(albeit inefficient for many purposes), The appeal of the “classic”warmers are that the tortillas stay warm in the pouch for an extendedtime after the tortillas have been warmed. They also serve as a tableaccessory when serving meals “buffet style”.

The draw back to the current art is that the “classic” style tortillawarmers cost much more to manufacture per unit than the proposedinvention, they must be cleaned or washed frequently and they requirestorage space. Thus, because they require storage space and must becleaned, they are inefficient for small housing spaces, such as collegedorms or hotel rooms. Similarly, people employed in offices confront thesame problems in using the classic tortilla warmers as those encounteredin hotels. Persons staying in recreational vehicles (“RV's”) seeking towarm tortillas, flat bread or pita bread items encounter the sameinefficiencies and challenges if they use the re-usable “permanent”tortilla warmers.

THE SOLUTION PRESENTED IN THE DISCLOSED CONCEPTS

The Uniqueness of the Disposable Tortilla or Flat Bread Product WarmingDevice (hereinafter referred to as the “Pouch”)

Applicant's disposable pouch is ideal for person's housed in smallerspaces, person's with electric stove top ranges (as opposed to “gas”stoves) and for office locations because the design allows for asignificantly lower priced product. For example, it is ideal for acollege student being housed in a dormitory since this disposable pouchdoes not require cleaning or storage. The pouch is intended to bemanufactured as an affordable accessory capable of having multiple unitspackaged in a single affordable purchase. For these reasons, the pouchis also ideal for business travelers to re-heat leftovers in a hotelmicrowave oven and consume almost anything that can be contained orprepared in tortillas, flat bread, pita bread and other similar edibleproducts. For these same reasons, this invention is an ideal device forall persons that are housed in small spaces such as studio apartments oreven recreational vehicles.

The pouch comprises of a disposable warmer that is capable of storing arelatively small number of tortillas, flat bread, pita bread or othersimilar edible products for quick warming and is designed for a quicktransfer to the plate for immediate consumption or preparation of a“taco”, “gyro”, or similar product. This pouch is then discarded sinceit is designed for a single use. As such, this disposable tortillawarmer can be manufactured out of inexpensive microwave safe materialsuch as light cardboard or heavy paper such as paper towel grade paperor other grades of paper. Additionally, there are other disposable andecologically friendly materials that it can be manufactured out of thatallow the design to operate as intended and offer varying degree ofmanufacturing costs and re-use capability. Thus, the pouch can bemanufactured as a more expensive version with insulated lining to keepmultiple tortillas, flat bread, pita bread or other edible products warmsubsequent to heating or can be manufactured as a “bare bones” costeffective pouch designed to heat the tortillas, flat bread, pita breador other similar edible products quickly and efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the invention having a circular shape, with outer side 100comprised of parchment or other silicon treated paper. The outer side100 folds down (or connects to a back side (not shown in FIG. 1)) tocreate an edge 110, forming a pocket 120, wherein food may be placed forwarming.

In an embodiment, outer side 100 is comprised of untreated paper, andthe inside of the pouch is treated with silicon, or any other chemicalknown to contain moisture when heating food in a microwave.

FIG. 2 shows the invention having a rectangular or square shape, withouter side 200 comprised of parchment or other silicon treated paper.The outer side 200 folds down (or connects to a back side (not shown inFIG. 1)) to create an edge 210, forming a pocket 220, wherein food maybe placed for warming.

In an embodiment, outer side 200 is comprised of untreated paper, andthe inside of the pouch is treated with silicon.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention. Front side 300 iscomposed of silicon-treated or untreated paper on the outside andsilicon-treated paper on the inside. Back side 310 is also composed ofsilicon-treated or untreated paper on the outside and silicon-treatedpaper on the inside. Back side 310 connects to front side 300 viaconnection 320. Connection 320 can be any method of connection that isknown in the art, including glue, adhesive tape, and perforations. Backside 310 extends beyond front side 300 so that it may be folded overfront side 300 such that the food product is enclosed within the pouch.The portion of back side 310 that extends beyond front side 300 may betreated with adhesive tape or other adhesive substance so that whenfolded, back side 310 will bond with front side 300.

All places where paper, silicon-treated or otherwise, connects to eitherpaper or an insulating layer, or where two insulating layers connect,the connection may be effectuated by any means known in the art,including, but not limited to, glue, adhesive tape, perforations,stitching, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention. In anembodiment, the present invention consists of a layer of parchment orsilicon treated paper 410, surrounded by a heat insulating layer 420.The heat insulating layer 420 may consist of any microwavable material,including, but not limited to, paper, cloth, cardboard, or rubber. Thepurpose of the heat insulating layer 420 is to provide a relatively coolsurface so that the consumer may handle the pouch immediately withoutrisking burning his/her hands.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the outer side of an embodiment ofthe present invention. Top side 500 comprises silicon-treated oruntreated paper, and is the outside of the pouch. Bottom side 510comprises silicon-treated paper (e.g., parchment paper) and is theinside of the pouch. Top side 500 and bottom side 510 are connected viacorrugated microwave safe material 520. The corrugated microwave safematerial 520 may be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or any othermicrowave safe material.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A food warming pouch comprising: a top substrate anda bottom substrate, wherein: at least one outer edge of the bottomsubstrate extends beyond at least one outer edge of the top substratecreating a foldable flap; the top substrate and the bottom substrate areconnected to each other on at least two edges that are opposite to theouter edge of the bottom substrate that extends beyond the at least oneouter edge of the top substrate, such that the top substrate and thebottom substrate are adapted to receive a food item; and the topsubstrate and the bottom substrate comprise silicone-treated parchmentpaper.
 10. The food warming pouch of claim 9, further comprising anouter layer surrounding the top substrate and the bottom substrate;wherein the outer layer is an insulating layer.
 11. The food warmingpouch of claim 9, wherein the bottom substrate and the top substrate areconnected to each other with adhesive, glue, tape, or stitches. 12-14.(canceled)
 15. The food warming pouch of claim 9, wherein the bottomsubstrate, the top substrate, and the outer layer are rectangular inshape.